The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced it will monitor federal voting rights compliance in Portage County, Ohio, during the early voting period and on Election Day. This move comes as part of the department’s ongoing efforts to ensure that all citizens can exercise their right to vote free from interference or intimidation.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division regularly sends staff across the country to monitor elections for compliance with federal civil rights laws. In some cases, federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management are also deployed under court orders. In Portage County, concerns have been raised regarding voter intimidation, including reports of surveillance, the collection of personal voter information, and threats related to the electoral process. Such actions are prohibited under Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which bans intimidation, threats, or coercion related to voting.
The DOJ has urged voters in Portage County to report any instances of voter intimidation or possible violations of federal voting rights laws through its Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal or hotline. The department also provides additional resources on voting rights and federal protections on its website.
This monitoring effort underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to safeguarding the voting process and ensuring equal access to the ballot for all citizens, especially in communities facing concerns over potential interference.